Test Kits

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by meagan1823, Feb 6, 2009.

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  1. meagan1823

    meagan1823 Purple Spiny Lobster

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    Which water tests kits do yall use?
    What all parameters do you test for?
    I plan on having coral, fish, invert. and live rock/sand
     
    meagan1823, Feb 6, 2009
    meagan1823, Feb 6, 2009
    #1

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  2. jakeh24

    jakeh24 Pajama Cardinal

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    I use API test kits i test for ammonia and nitrate
    I don't test for anything else because i do water changes periodically so i just don't worry about them



    whatever you do don't get test strips or red sea test kits they are garbage IMO
     
    jakeh24, Feb 6, 2009
    jakeh24, Feb 6, 2009
    #2
  3. That Guy

    That Guy Aiptasia Anemone

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    salifert or elos test kits i find to be the best...I know a lot of people on here use API and red sea kits but i dont really care for them cause they are either harder to read the results or they are harder to perform accurately...
    For a coral system you wanna test for
    Alkalinity (10dkh-12dkh)
    Calcium (400ppm-500ppm)
    Magnesium (1200ppm-1400ppm)
    pH (8.0ppm-8.4ppm)
    Nitrate (0ppm-5ppm)
    Phosphates (0ppm-0.03ppm)
     
    That Guy, Feb 6, 2009
    That Guy, Feb 6, 2009
    #3
  4. RHorton

    RHorton Pajama Cardinal

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    I've always used red sea kits and have never had a problem.
    I use them to test my mag ,cal, phos, alk, ph.
     
    RHorton, Feb 6, 2009
    RHorton, Feb 6, 2009
    #4
  5. Dr.Fragenstein

    Dr.Fragenstein Panda Puffer

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    Tropic Marin for just about everything I test for.... Sometimes I compare those results to say API and then sigh that I am now officially over the cheap stage in this hobby!! :)
    No really though, for the most part test kits ARE worth the higher price!
     
    Dr.Fragenstein, Feb 6, 2009
    Dr.Fragenstein, Feb 6, 2009
    #5
  6. jakeh24

    jakeh24 Pajama Cardinal

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    i find them extremely hard to read
     
    jakeh24, Feb 6, 2009
    jakeh24, Feb 6, 2009
    #6

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  7. adam

    adam Montipora Digitata

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    I have an outdated Tropic Marin Phosphate test kit and its hard to use and read. Is the Red Sea one easier?
     
    adam, Feb 6, 2009
    adam, Feb 6, 2009
    #7
  8. That Guy

    That Guy Aiptasia Anemone

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    the Best po4 kit is the elos kit...easy to do and easy to read...
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2009
    That Guy, Feb 6, 2009
    That Guy, Feb 6, 2009
    #8
  9. PharmrJohn

    PharmrJohn The Dude

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    The fish-only tank needs NH4, NO2, NO3 and pH.

    Adding LPS, you will also want Ca, Mg, dKh and PO4

    Adding SPS you will want to add K and Sr.

    I have API NH4, NO2 and pH. The rest are Salifert. I am slowly converting to Salifert and Elos.
     
    PharmrJohn, Feb 6, 2009
    PharmrJohn, Feb 6, 2009
    #9
  10. pgreef

    pgreef Fire Goby

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    Location:
    Algonquin, IL
    Nitrate - Salifert
    Calcium - API
    Phosphate - API
    pH / Alkalinity - Seachem
    Magnesium - Salifert (on order)
     
    pgreef, Feb 6, 2009
    pgreef, Feb 6, 2009
    #10
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